Guest guest Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Everything went well and I'm at home resting. There isn't a lot of pain except a bad cramp on my neck and if I don't take my pain meds, it feels like I have an ear infection. Will try to write more tomorrow. But I feel very alert since I got home. I took several naps too but been talking to people all day long while laying down on the couch. It doesn't seem like the implant is there at all. So I don't feel bionic in any way (maybe later), I feel like me Activation is on June 16!!! Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 Suey, Surgery in 45 minutes, and no stitches - what does he do - superglue it on the outside?? david >> HI > > I had what felt like ear infection right after my surgery, also. My surgeon said that was a good sign and meant the implant was getting " seated " where it was suppose to.> > WOW, your activation is just two weeks after surgery! I had to wait a month. > Good luck to you in your recovery and activation> > Suzanne > Nebraska USA> Surgery 1/14/08 > Activation Date 2/14/08> > Everything went well and I'm at home resting. There isn't a lot of pain except a bad cramp on my neck and if I don't take my pain meds, it feels like I have an ear infection. Will try to write more tomorrow. But I feel very alert since I got home. I took several naps too but been talking to people all day long while laying down on the couch.> > It doesn't seem like the implant is there at all. So I don't feel bionic in any way (maybe later), I feel like me > > > Activation is on June 16!!! > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 I was activated in one week and that went fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 Yep. Dermabond on the surface incision, dissolvable stitches on the deeper layers. I liked it. I wish my surgery was 45 minutes -- mine was over 3 hours. 45 min sounds too fast to me. How would that leave time for x-rays to ensure proper position of the array? Let alone being careful of all the nerves, etc. But if a surgeon can do it safely and thoroughly that fast, great. Shorter surgery means fast recovery. -Jeff Re:Ci surgery > Suey, > > Surgery in 45 minutes, and no stitches - what does he do - superglue > it on the outside?? > > david Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 My surgery was about 45 minutes too. No bandage, just glue and dissolveable stitches. Ill be back at work on Monday. My surgery was at 8 and we left at about 11 or 1130. . Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T Re: Re:Ci surgery Yep. Dermabond on the surface incision, dissolvable stitches on the deeper layers. I liked it. I wish my surgery was 45 minutes -- mine was over 3 hours. 45 min sounds too fast to me. How would that leave time for x-rays to ensure proper position of the array? Let alone being careful of all the nerves, etc. But if a surgeon can do it safely and thoroughly that fast, great. Shorter surgery means fast recovery. -Jeff Re:Ci surgery > Suey, > > Surgery in 45 minutes, and no stitches - what does he do - superglue > it on the outside?? > > david Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 They used the disolveable stitches on me, . Similar to superglue :-) Ted F. > > Suey, > > Surgery in 45 minutes, and no stitches - what does he do - superglue > it on the outside?? > > david > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 , I was activated 14 days post-op all was well and healed. Didn't take long and healed nicely. Had staplers out and then desolvable stitches. Now in process of going bi-lateral and was told 10 days. Last time was 14, because my surgeon was at a conference. I've had no problems since. Another person had 2 days post-op. I would think it depends on the surgeon and patient and available appointments. ~ Kitty S. ~ BPWMGIFWMY! Cochlear Awareness Volunteer Chicago, IL IMPLANTED-R: 09.07.06 (Freedom CA) ACTIVATED-R: 09.22.06 (Nice B-day gift!) BLOG: https://CIJourney4Kitty.blogspot.com (Pardon the dust, under construction) EMAIL: CharidaRose@... THE NUKED CAFE: nuked_cafe-subscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 Hi Everyone, WOW!!! CI surgery in 45 minutes. That seems unreal to me, but they are doing so many procedures differently these days?? I have CI surgery in 11/07 and it took 4 hours. So you can see I am somewhat dazed at 45 minutes. I feel like calling my ENT doctor to have him explain the difference. As a former Operating Room nurse, I know that to do this procedure they have to drill into the skull to enable them to lay in the implant. THEN to get to the cochlea, they have to drill into the mastoid bone which is behind the ear and that takes time. All of us had stitches put in after surgery, they have to stitch the various layers of muscles, tendons, etc. What they use for the skin closure can be staples or they close with disolveable suture which of course does not have to be removed. Did someone mention surgical glue??? New to me. After surgery I did have a dressing on until the next morning. I was able to wash my hair with the staples in place without a problem in 2 days, just had to be gentle. While the incision was not that painful, I had tremendous tinitus to deal with. That may have been the worse part. My surgeon, had me wait for 6 weeks before activation. The reason being that he wanted the incision and all the soreness to be minimal when they put on the processor. It is all the past now and I praise the entire team and God for the hearing I now have. I am hearing things I have not heard for many years. I am thankful everyday for my CI and the joy of hearing it brings to me. Hope you all feel the same way. Hearing Well in PA, Bernadine Left CI 11/30/07 Activation 1/16/08 Right BTE HA for 30+ years. Late in life hearing loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 I was supposed to be activated 24 hours after surgery, but I was too sick and weak. So, it was done a week later. I had no problem with the using the CI as the incision was slightly " out of range " of the CI. A friend did have hers activated 24 hours after surgery and she did not have problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 I think that's part of the idea. That one should make sure they recuperate and feel more up to it first before they get activated. Dan > > I was supposed to be activated 24 hours after surgery, but I was too sick > and weak. So, it was done a week later. I had no problem with the using the > CI as the incision was slightly " out of range " of the CI. A friend did have > hers activated 24 hours after surgery and she did not have problems. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 Bernadine, I think the time of the surgery has some to do with the thickness of the person's skull. I have a very thick skull, and my doctor told us that my surgery took longer than normal because he had to do so much drilling to get the implant in. Lynn Fairhope, AL Nucleus Freedom Surgery date 9/6/06 Activation date 9/27/06 Re: Ci surgery Hi Everyone, WOW!!! CI surgery in 45 minutes. That seems unreal to me, but they are doing so many procedures differently these days?? I have CI surgery in 11/07 and it took 4 hours. So you can see I am somewhat dazed at 45 minutes. I feel like calling my ENT doctor to have him explain the difference. As a former Operating Room nurse, I know that to do this procedure they have to drill into the skull to enable them to lay in the implant. THEN to get to the cochlea, they have to drill into the mastoid bone which is behind the ear and that takes time. All of us had stitches put in after surgery, they have to stitch the various layers of muscles, tendons, etc. What they use for the skin closure can be staples or they close with disolveable suture which of course does not have to be removed. Did someone mention surgical glue??? New to me. After surgery I did have a dressing on until the next morning. I was able to wash my hair with the staples in place without a problem in 2 days, just had to be gentle. While the incision was not that painful, I had tremendous tinitus to deal with. That may have been the worse part. My surgeon, had me wait for 6 weeks before activation. The reason being that he wanted the incision and all the soreness to be minimal when they put on the processor. It is all the past now and I praise the entire team and God for the hearing I now have. I am hearing things I have not heard for many years. I am thankful everyday for my CI and the joy of hearing it brings to me. Hope you all feel the same way. Hearing Well in PA, Bernadine Left CI 11/30/07 Activation 1/16/08 Right BTE HA for 30+ years. Late in life hearing loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 I don't undestand that, Lynn. The depth of the hole in the skull is dictated by the thickness of the implant not the thickness of the skull. Perhaps you're just more " hard headed " than most. ;<) Virg ps. I find it interesting that they mention drilling when I would have said routing. I think of drilling as making a hole the exact size of the drill and routing as clearing away an area usually substantially larger that the router bit. > Bernadine, > I think the time of the surgery has some to do with the thickness of the > person's skull. I have a very thick skull, and my doctor told us that my > surgery took longer than normal because he had to do so much drilling to get > the implant in. > > Lynn > Fairhope, AL > > Nucleus Freedom > Surgery date 9/6/06 > Activation date 9/27/06 > > Re: Ci surgery > > Hi Everyone, > WOW!!! CI surgery in 45 minutes. That seems unreal to me, but they are doing > so many procedures differently these days?? I have CI surgery in 11/07 and > it took 4 hours. So you can see I am somewhat dazed at 45 minutes. I feel > like calling my ENT doctor to have him explain the difference. As a former > Operating Room nurse, I know that to do this procedure they have to drill > into the skull to enable them to lay in the implant. THEN to get to the > cochlea, they have to drill into the mastoid bone which is behind the ear > and that takes time. All of us had stitches put in after surgery, they have > to stitch the various layers of muscles, tendons, etc. What they use for the > skin closure can be staples or they close with disolveable suture which of > course does not have to be removed. Did someone mention surgical glue??? New > to me. > After surgery I did have a dressing on until the next morning. I was able to > wash my hair with the staples in place without a problem in 2 days, just had > to be gentle. While the incision was not that painful, I had tremendous > tinitus to deal with. That may have been the worse part. My surgeon, had me > wait for 6 weeks before activation. The reason being that he wanted the > incision and all the soreness to be minimal when they put on the processor. > > It is all the past now and I praise the entire team and God for the hearing > I now have. I am hearing things I have not heard for many years. I am > thankful everyday for my CI and the joy of hearing it brings to me. Hope you > all feel the same way. > Hearing Well in PA, > Bernadine > Left CI 11/30/07 > Activation 1/16/08 > Right BTE HA for 30+ years. > Late in life hearing loss > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 Both drilling and routing are required. The surgeon routs out a depression in the skull above the ear to receive the implant, which is a disk shaped package containing a microchip. The leads from the electrode bundle are connected to the implant, and the electrode bundle is inserted into the cochlea via a hole drilled through the mastoid bone. H jenkins On Jun 8, 2008, at 2:22 PM, Virg wrote: > I don't undestand that, Lynn. The depth of the hole in the skull is > dictated by the thickness of the implant not the thickness of the > skull. > Perhaps you're just more " hard headed " than most. ;<) > > Virg > ps. I find it interesting that they mention drilling when I would > have said > routing. I think of drilling as making a hole the exact size of the > drill > and routing as clearing away an area usually substantially larger > that the > router bit. > > > Bernadine, > > I think the time of the surgery has some to do with the thickness > of the > > person's skull. I have a very thick skull, and my doctor told us > that my > > surgery took longer than normal because he had to do so much > drilling to > get > > the implant in. > > > > Lynn > > Fairhope, AL > > > > Nucleus Freedom > > Surgery date 9/6/06 > > Activation date 9/27/06 > > > > Re: Ci surgery > > > > Hi Everyone, > > WOW!!! CI surgery in 45 minutes. That seems unreal to me, but they > are > doing > > so many procedures differently these days?? I have CI surgery in > 11/07 and > > it took 4 hours. So you can see I am somewhat dazed at 45 minutes. > I feel > > like calling my ENT doctor to have him explain the difference. As > a former > > Operating Room nurse, I know that to do this procedure they have > to drill > > into the skull to enable them to lay in the implant. THEN to get > to the > > cochlea, they have to drill into the mastoid bone which is behind > the ear > > and that takes time. All of us had stitches put in after surgery, > they > have > > to stitch the various layers of muscles, tendons, etc. What they > use for > the > > skin closure can be staples or they close with disolveable suture > which of > > course does not have to be removed. Did someone mention surgical > glue??? > New > > to me. > > After surgery I did have a dressing on until the next morning. I > was able > to > > wash my hair with the staples in place without a problem in 2 > days, just > had > > to be gentle. While the incision was not that painful, I had > tremendous > > tinitus to deal with. That may have been the worse part. My > surgeon, had > me > > wait for 6 weeks before activation. The reason being that he > wanted the > > incision and all the soreness to be minimal when they put on the > processor. > > > > It is all the past now and I praise the entire team and God for the > hearing > > I now have. I am hearing things I have not heard for many years. I > am > > thankful everyday for my CI and the joy of hearing it brings to > me. Hope > you > > all feel the same way. > > Hearing Well in PA, > > Bernadine > > Left CI 11/30/07 > > Activation 1/16/08 > > Right BTE HA for 30+ years. > > Late in life hearing loss > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2008 Report Share Posted June 9, 2008 I've had two surgeons tell me the same thing. My first surgery, 10 years ago, apparently was difficult due to my skull. Despite the drilling he did to make an impression, I could always feel a significant bump where the implant was. The surgeon said it would be fine since I had a lot of hair to cover it up. J I had revision surgery last January, and now the implant is more flush against my head, but there were also some issues with my skull - I guess it's just hard for them to make room in there, but I'm not sure why. My surgery was on a Thursday and I was activated on Monday. It was great. The incision was still sore, so I used my audiologist's loaner body-worn processor for a week. Having experienced this same surgery twice, I was amazed at how much has improved over the years. My favorite change that was my second surgeon didn't shave any of my hair. I think I was in a better frame of mind for healing faster since I didn't have to wait months for my (fairly long) hair to grow back. I felt more " normal " faster. Jill AB Harmony 2008 >I don't undestand that, Lynn. The depth of the hole in the skull is >dictated by the thickness of the implant not the thickness of the skull. >Perhaps you're just more " hard headed " than most. ;<) >Virg >ps. I find it interesting that they mention drilling when I would have said >routing. I think of drilling as making a hole the exact size of the drill >and routing as clearing away an area usually substantially larger that the >router bit. > Bernadine, > I think the time of the surgery has some to do with the thickness of the > person's skull. I have a very thick skull, and my doctor told us that my > surgery took longer than normal because he had to do so much drilling to get > the implant in. > > Lynn > Fairhope, AL > > Nucleus Freedom > Surgery date 9/6/06 > Activation date 9/27/06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Rhonda  Mine was and outpatient. Got to Checkin at 9am. Then to surgery pre-op area about 10am and left about 4:30pm. Someone has to drive you back ,  Good Luck  Ken Fla From: Rhonda Kneeland <rhonda.kneeland@...> Subject: CI surgery Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 3:00 PM  Is the CI surgery an inpatient or outpatient procedure? I may be having it done before the end of this month instead of holding off a few months. Rhonda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Hi Rhonda, I think most CI centers are now doing it as day surgery. You come in first thing in the morning, have the procedure, recover and then go home that afternoon after you have recovered. You should ask your surgeon what his policy is. Jim > > Is the CI surgery an inpatient or outpatient procedure? I may be having it done before the end of this month instead of holding off a few months. > > Rhonda > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Mine was done as out-patient but some have had to stay in the hospital a day or so. It just depends on your situation such as other medical issues that might need monitored after the surgery. This is a good question to ask your surgeon so you and your family can be prepared. I was in surgery by 7:00 and out of the hospital by 3:30. We had to stay over night at a motel because it is a four hour drive for us. The next day the surgeon checked my surgery site at his office and they took out some staples that were holding a bandage over the incision area. Was home for ten days and went back and had my stitches taken out. Suzanne Nebraska USA Surgery 1/14/08 R ear N.Freedom Activation Date 2/14/08 Dr. W. Conlon, Alpha ENT Clinic Ft. , CO Is the CI surgery an inpatient or outpatient procedure? I may be having it done before the end of this month instead of holding off a few months. Rhonda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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